Job Outlook

According to The Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the United States Department of Labor, examples of jobs available for human service workers and assistants in the years 2000 to 2014, include the following: social service assistant, case management aide, social work assistant, community support worker, alcohol or drug abuse counselor, mental health aide, community outreach worker, life skill counselor, gerontology aide, residential counselor, child care worker, occupational therapy assistant, physical therapy assistant, psychiatric aide, and activity leader.

According to the same source, opportunities for human service workers and assistants are expected to be excellent, particularly for applicants with appropriate postsecondary education. The number of human service workers and assistants is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations between 1998 and 2014 - ranking among the most rapidly growing occupations. The need to replace workers who move into new positions due to advancement, retirement, or for other reasons will create many additional job opportunities. The number of jobs for human service workers and assistants will grow more rapidly than overall employment in state and local governments.

Examples of occupational titles of human service workers/practitioners: